The market town of Bicester has attractive stone buildings in the old town around St Edburg's Church and the Market Square. The main shopping area is Sheep Street but Bicester has also become a tourist destination for the Bicester Village designer outlet shopping mall (see below).
Bicester has two stations, Bicester North and Bicester Village, both served by trains from London Marylebone. Bicester Bus Station is ½ mile from both rail stations but some buses pass near North station.
Note that Bicester is pronounced 'Bister'.
Bicester Village is a designer outlet shopping mall and very popular with shoppers looking for designer bargains.
It is close to Bicester Village station on the line from London Marylebone to
Oxford. If you are arriving from the north at Bicester North station the mall is 1 mile away
but shuttle buses operate from Bicester North station forecourt.
Open Daily 0900-1900.
www.tbvsc.com/bicester-village
A Georgian country house with a lavish interior. Claydon has been occupied by the Verney family
for over 550 years. Florence Nightingale was Lady Verney's sister and spent summers here. Tearoom.
A separate charge applies for the historic gardens which are not owned by the National Trust.
Open Apr-Oct, MFSSu 1030-1530.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk |
www.claydonestate.co.uk
Bus 18 from Bus Station and near Bicester Village station to Steeple Claydon, Library, then 1¾ miles walk.
About 30 minutes journey, M-F every 2-3 hours. Times from Traveline.
Buses also operate from Aylesbury and Aylesbury Vale Parkway.
St Michael's Church in Steeple Claydon has a landmark steeple that can be seen from miles away.
Buckingham is an attractive small market town with fine Georgian buildings. A Town Trail leaflet is available from the Tourist Information Centre.
TI Old Gaol, tel. 01280 823020.
www.discoverbuckingham.uk
Bus X5 from Bus Station and near Bicester North station to Buckingham, High Street, about 30 minutes journey. Daily hourly. Operated by Stagecoach. Buses also operate from Aylesbury and Milton Keynes Central.
The Museum is housed in Buckingham's Old Gaol and covers the town's history including prison life.
Features include the story of a Saxon coin hoard recently found nearby and an exhibition about the life of local author, Flora Thompson.
Open M-S 1000-1600.
www.buckinghamoldgaol.org.uk
Bus to Buckingham, see above.
A 15th century chapel restored by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1875.
It has had many uses and now is a coffee shop and secondhand bookshop.
Open TWFS 1000-1500 but subject to alteration.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Bus to Buckingham, see above.
Stowe is a large Georgian landscape garden and park. Designed as an earthly paradise,
the winding paths, lakes, temples and monuments provide many picturesque views.
Visitor Centre at entrance. Café. Picnics welcome.
Stowe House (not NT) is a school but the state rooms can be visited, see
www.stowe.co.uk or ask at the Visitor Centre.
Open Daily 1000-1700 (1600 Nov-Jan).
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Bus to Buckingham (see above) then 2 miles via West Street and
Stowe Avenue to the entrance and Visitor Centre.
